Countdown to Love

Our first big holiday is coming up, Valentine's! This year we wanted to make it a little bit more festive for the kids. So, just like we used our homemade advent calendar to countdown to Christmas, we'll also countdown to Valentine's Day.

Monday night, January 31, the kids decorated their own foam mailboxes that we got on sale at Michael's. Preston picked a red one and Kaitlyn picked a pink one. They also picked out some foam stickers to stick all over their mailboxes.

They are both so proud of their creations.

Then, the mailboxes are placed downstairs in the living room. Each day from February 1 through February 14, there will be a surprise waiting for the kids in their mailboxes. None of the surprises are very expensive. So far, they both got a Valentine's coloring page on Feb 1. Today, Preston got a puzzle ($1) and Kaitlyn got a Tinkerbell notebook ($1). They are so excited to see what new thing they will get each day.

There are other activities planned as we countdown like making a Valentine's mobile to hang from our dining room light, making heart-shaped cookies, and a day full of fun on Valentine's.

We're Still Here

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. This time of year is a little slow for us. Here's just a couple things we've been up to.

First, our friends asked us to puppy sit their adorable lab named Faith. She was so cute and well behaved. We watched her overnight, but it was very easy. I say this because Craig was the one that got up at 4:30 am to let her out when she started whining. Preston and Kaitlyn loved looking at her. And that's about it. For some reason, they thought Faith was going to go after them. Towards the end, the kids did start warming up to the puppy. We were happy to be of help to our friends.

Then, we had snow! SNOW!!!! I have a love/hate relationship with snow. I love to see it. I love when it tends to make a surprise appearance now and then in Texas. However, I HATE to drive in it. If I know I have to drive somewhere and there is snow in the ground, I have terrible anxiety. I blame it on the fact that I was in a bad car accident in 2009 and then I had to drive in snow last winter and my car was sliding on the ice. Thus, the reason behind my anxiety.

So, this is the backyard as the snow was falling. Very pretty.

This is one of our shelties, Lady. She doesn't like to be outside in wet weather any longer than she has to.

Here is another look at our backyard in the snow.

The snow didn't get much deeper and it melted shortly after.

So, not much going on with us in way of activities. However, as I look at our calendar, it's starting to quickly fill up with many things planned. Stay tuned.

Spicy Mac N Cheese

Time for another recipe post! Spicy Mac N Cheese is such a delicious dish but don't eat if you're watching your carbs and fat intake. lol I usually only make this when my dad is in town because it's his favorite. It may be a little spicy for some, but it's just right for our family. Here's the recipe:

Spicy Mac N Cheese from Food Network
2 cups elbow pasta, cooked
16 0z cheddar cubed, 1/2 cubed, 1/2 shredded
8 oz pepper jack cheese, cubed
2 tsp. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. dry ground mustard
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
4 Tbsp. sour cream
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half/half
4 slices bread
1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, toss cooked pasta with cheese cubes and pour in 13 x 9 inch casserole dish. In another bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, mustard, nutmeg, sour cream, egg, heavy cream, and half/half. Pour over pasta. Cover with shredded Cheddar. Bake uncovered until top is beginning to brown, about 35 minutes. Meanwhile, cut bread into crouton-sized squares. In skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add bread cubes. Toast bread until golden. Sprinkle bread on top of pasta and bake 10 more minutes. Enjoy!

Here's to 2011

As we say good-bye to one more year, it's with great hope that we look forward to 2011. With great anticipation, we are eager to see what God has in store for our family, friends, and loved ones.

2010 was full of many heartaches and trials for us. We mourned the passing of an aunt, grandma, a sister, and numerous cousins. Loved ones were hospitalized for various illnesses and surgeries.

But 2010 was also full of many, many blessings from God. We witnessed many healings and health transformations. God proved his Word is true over and over. So many God ordained events occured and miracles were seen.

God is good. All the time. It's so easy to look at the negative in all situations. It's so easy to be saddened and miserable because life doesn't always go our way. However, the Bible says to be joyful always.

Craig and I decided many years ago that we always have to stay positive. We find the good in every situation and know that God is still guiding our steps.

There is one Scripture that Craig and I have repeated over and over throughout our marriage. It has proven true time and time again. Interestingly, I have seen this Scripture repeated over and over for 2011.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the Lord, "'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.'"-Jeremiah 29:11

Let's make 2011 the year we truly listen to God. Let it be a year full of promises being fulfilled. Let it be a year so incredible, that God's love just continuously radiates from us.

O Christmas Tree

I've had several people ask me about my Christmas tree. Then, they have a surprised look when I tell them I have 3 Christmas trees. But trust me, they're not fancy and I didn't have to spend a lot on any of them.


All my trees are fake. I don't like real trees for several reasons: 1) I can't stand the smell of pine. I blame it on the fact that I spent a lot of time as a child at my cousin's cabin in Lake Tahoe (I know, poor me). Although the scenery was beautiful and I loved getting away from my house in Reno, I could not stand the smell of all the pine trees! 2) Real trees are expensive and you have to get a new one every year. We've spent less than $100 for all 3 trees, including the ornaments. 3) You have to take care of real trees. I don't have a green thumb. I cannot keep plants alive. In fact, I don't have any plants in my house. There are some pretty flowers on our front porch, but Craig takes care of those. Plus, I don't want to have to worry about my tree drying out and possibly starting a fire.


Here is tree #1. This is the first tree Craig and I had as a married couple. It was given to us by my parents. It's 5 1/2 ft. tall and it's in our game room upstairs. We call this the "kids tree" because we put all their homemade ornaments on it. We also put old ornaments that Craig and I made growing up on the tree. The tree has flashing lights so you only see part of them in the second picture.

We got tree #2 at a Black Friday sale at Jo-ann's for $30. Great deal! Then, we went to Hobby Lobby and bought 2 packages of red and gold ornaments for $10 each. It was enough to cover the whole tree. This tree sits in our formal area.

Finally, tree #3 is by far my favorite. The color on the walls in our family room is called Velvety Merlot. It's a deep red color and we love it! It really makes the room look cozy. Since we bought this house in 2008, I wanted a white Christmas tree. I thought it would be a nice accent to the room. Back in October, I was driving around looking at garage sales. At the first garage sale I went to, I noticed a box sitting to the side. As I looked closer, I saw it was a white Christmas tree! Immediately, I asked how much it cost. I quickly handed over my money when I was told it was $10!!! TEN DOLLARS!!!! Best garage sale deal ever!

When it was time to put up the trees, we didn't have any decorations for the tree. With red walls and a white tree, I wanted my favorite color for the ornaments-black. I wanted only black ornaments on the tree. Do you know how hard it is to find black ornaments? There not available everywhere. I drove to Hobby Lobby and found some. I bought $10 worth of black ornaments (4 boxes). My sister-in-law actually had 3 boxes of black ornaments that her daughter left behind. So, I got those too. Later, when I went to buy a black star topper and Christmas tree skirt at Hobby Lobby, they were sold out. So, I'll just get them next year. I'll get some more ornaments too.

On Christmas Eve, a family at church gave me a gift as a thank you for all my ministry work. It was black ornaments with some gold accents. Love it!!! Can't wait to use them next year.


So, those are my trees. I would actually like more. Believe it or not, I want a black tree in our bedroom since we will be painting the walls two shades of gray (no, I'm not demonic as my family says). Stay tuned next Christmas!

Happy Anniversary!

On Saturday, December 25th, Craig and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. Yes, we got married on Christmas Day. We got married in El Paso at the church where we met. I really, really wanted a white Christmas, but living in El Paso, I knew that wouldn't happen. However, on Christmas Eve, the eve before our wedding, it snowed!!!! I took it as a sign from God blessing our marriage.


Our tale begins in 1992 when Craig and I started attending the same church in El Paso, Harvest Christian Center. His parents knew the senior pastor and helped start up the church. My family came a few months later when invited by a colleague of my dad's.


Over the next 4 years, Craig and I became friends, always attending youth and church functions. We became good friends, then best friends, and eventually in April 1996 we became boyfriend and girlfriend. Since I was so young when we first met, Craig saw me go through all my awkward adolescence, but still saw something special in me.


He proposed a week before my 18th birthday only after getting my parents permission. My parents only stipulation was that I had to complete a year of college first. Well, I completed a year and a half of college and then got married.


Again, I knew it was a sign from God that we got married at the appropriate time when Craig was transferred out of state with his job only three months after we got married. Craig moved to Socorro, NM in March while I finished my semester of school and another show I was performing in. I joined him in June, but Craig came home every week on his days off.


We moved again to Santa Fe, NM then back to El Paso, and finally to the D/FW area. This is what we call home. In fact, before we got married, we prayed about where we hoped God would take us. We either wanted to live in the D/FW area or San Diego (our favorite place ever and where we spent our honeymoon). We were very happy when God brought us here.


Throughout our 11 years, we have been on a never-ending roller coaster. We've endured deaths and births. Craig stood by my side through many, many medical procedures and life-threatening surgeries (worthy of another post someday). I've stood by his side through many job transfers and moves.


Now I sit here typing this post and count all the blessings that God has given Craig and I. We have two beautiful children that we didn't know we would be able to have after all my many medical issues. We live in our absolute dream home that had everything on our checklist. I am able to be a part-time stay-at-home-mom and when I do work, I get to share my passion of music with others.


We really could not want for anything else. God has completely blessed our lives, our family, our marriage. We knew our marriage had to be built on a solid foundation of God's Holy Word and that's what we've so proudly done.

Christmas Traditions

It's been a very busy couple of days so I'm playing catch up on here. But we are eager to share with you the Kelley Christmas traditions. Be forewarned, this is a LONG post! :)

Since we leave Christmas morning to go to my parents, the four of us have our own traditions on Christmas Eve. It starts with Craig making homemade doughnuts for breakfast. He only does this once a year, but it's something we look forward to.

Here are the doughnuts frying in the skillet. They are simply canned biscuits with a hole cut out of the middle.

Here are the yummy toppings: melted chocolate and cinnamon and sugar.

The finished doughnuts. Don't they look so delicious?!

Here are the taste testers. As you can see, they love the chocolate doughnuts.

Another tradition we do starting December 1 is looking daily at our Advent Calendar. I made this last year. It was a craft I found in Family Fun magazine. It was very easy to make and I was able to personalize it for our own family. I simply cut out 25 doors or windows from magazines and glued them on red cardstock. Then, I cut around 3 sides of each picture. I then glued the red cardstock to green cardstock. I cut a yellow dot sticker in half and put it next to each picture and wrote a number (1-25) on it. Each day the kids took turns opening one of the doors or windows and we just followed what it said. For example, Day 3 says "Sing Jingle Bells" or Day 20 says "Bake some Christmas goodies". On Day 6, which is Craig's birthday, it says "Make A Card For Daddy". The kids really looked forward to reading it each morning.

Kaitlyn made some reindeer food in school this year. It's simply glitter and oats that you sprinkle on the lawn. It's supposed to shine in the moonlight and guide the reindeer to your house. Kaitlyn bravely stood out in the cold drizzle and sprinkled (and then dumped) the reindeer food on the lawn.

Every Christmas Eve, Craig works until 8 pm. I make finger foods for dinner and the kids wait for him to arrive. They know as soon as he gets home, they get to open their gifts.

They just can't contain their excitement!

Our kids know about Santa, but it is so important to us that they know all about Jesus and the real meaning of Christmas too. They've always known about the story of Jesus' birth and this year Craig decided to do what his dad always did. Craig opened the Bible to the book of Luke and read to the kids about the very first Christmas.

Of course, we have to get out Santa's goodies too. Santa's preferences seem to change every year. Luckily, I always seem to have what he's craving. I got this 'Cookies For Santa' plate many years ago at a fabric store in El Paso. We use it every year to set out for Santa.

This year, Santa wanted fudge, a candy cane cookie, and Dr. Pepper.

Once that is all done, the kids head to bed. Santa comes while they're sleeping and fills their stockings and leaves one big present for them.

Kaitlyn was the first to wake up. It was about 5:15 am, but Craig and I were already up. We were leaving for Abilene and 6 am. Kaitlyn got some brown and pink cowgirl boots. She loves them!

I had to wake Preston about 5:30 am. He's checking out his stocking and didn't even see his big present sitting on the floor next to it.

Finally, Preston saw his Leapster 2 and was so happy to have his very own. Now he doesn't have to borrown Kaitlyn's anymore.

We got dressed, loaded up, and headed to my parents house in Abilene. Two of my sisters and their families live in Abilene as well. One of my brothers lives in Ft. Worth and he heads to Abilene too. It's a full house on Christmas.

We arrived just in time for a huge Christmas breakfast. Then, it's time to open presents. Here is the tree full of gifts. The kids are eagerly anticipating the gift opening to begin.

Here is my lovely dad. He looks good for 73 yrs old! He's watching a video slideshow my mom made for him of his 4 youngest granddaughters.

Of course, there was the Wii and Just Dance. I think I'm doing "Cotton-Eyed Joe" with my niece and nephew.

Here are some of the kids getting their groove on!

Later, we did a White Elephant Gift exchange. I ended up with a Tattoo kit (it's used with markers) and Craig ended up with a black Lancome make-up case full of soaps, lotions, etc. He actually "stole" it from my sister (who "stole" it from me) so our daughter could use the case for toys and I could have everything in it. There was also a $20 bill strategically placed in the box of soap. Like I said, he got it so I could have EVERYTHING in it. LOL

It was a long day and we were all in bed just after 10 pm.

The next day, we had leftovers for breakfast and then I helped my mom make another big lunch. It was so good and we all gained 10 lbs.

Here's Kaitlyn playing with her cousin outside.

And so ends another holiday of family, food, fun, and being thankful for all that Jesus did for us so we could live the wonderful life that we all have.